Bank-vault



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. S. AMSTUTZ.

BANK VAUL'T.

No.`402,883. Patented May 7; 1889.

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N. s. AMSTUTZ.

BANK VAULT.

'l No. 402,883. Patented May '7, 1889.

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- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

N. S. AMZSTUTZ. BANK VAULT.

No. 402,883. Patented May 7, 18891 .IIIINNM mi n i msuuuun ii .1f

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BANK VAULT. No. 402,883. Patented May? A TTO/YNEYJ" IV VESSES,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

` N. S. AMSTUTZ.

BANK VAULT.

Patented May 7, 15889.

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WNNESSES ATTORNEYJ Cf. W.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NOAH S. AMSTUTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BAN K-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,883, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed November 12, 1888. Serial No. 290,595. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NOAH S. AMSTUTZ, 0f Cleveland, in the county of' Cuyahoga and State of O hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bank-Vaults; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

' such as will enable others skilled in the art partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is an elevation in section on line 0 0,'Fig. 1, as seen from the inside. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of door-frame and adjacent slab. Fig. 5 is a plan section 011 line o3, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an eleva-tion in section on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an elevation in section on line z z, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an elevation in section on line y' y', Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a plan in section on line as' Fig. S. Fig. lO is an inside perspective of one of slabs B. Figs. 11 and 12 are bottom plans of roof-slabs. Fig. 13 shows details in perspective. Fig. 14 is an enlarged elevation in section on line o' o', Fig. 2. Fig. 15 is an enlarged inside elevation of a portion of a side wall of the vault, showing the assembling of the slabs, tie-rods, and tieblocks when the slabs are not of continuous lengths. Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a modified form of tie-block.

A represents a foundation of mason-work, usually underground. Upon this masonwork is laid close side by side a series of common railroad-rails, A', preferably of steel, and of even length, so that the ends of these rails are in line. Around this flooring of rails and resting on the masonework is set a series of upright castiron slabs, B, with chilled faces and edges, these slabs forming the outer wall of the vault. rlhese slabs are usually about twelve inches wide by four inches thick, except the corner slabs, that are heavier and, say, from eight to nine feet long,

.although these dimensions may be varied indefinitely according to circumstances.

Slabs B have inwardly-projecting toes B", located far enough from the lower end of these slabs to extend over and rest on rails A', these toes usually overlapping the rails some eight or nine inches, more or less. Each toe B' has a re-enforcing boss, B2, on top, giving sufficient thickness of metal for drilling and tapping for attaching the tie-rods hereinafter mentioned. Slabs B are tongued and grooved together on the edges, as shown at B3. These slabs are re-enforced on the inner face thereof along the sides and top by heavy ribs h, projecting inward. The opposing edges of slabs B are cored, as shown at b', to receive upright stay-bolts d, that secure the cornice. For a few inches above toes B' ribs h are omitted, and in place thereof pockets B4 are cast in the inner face and edge of each slab for receiving tie-blocks D, the latter having shoulders D', for embracing the ends of ribs b, whereby slabs B are held in iirm contact edgewise. Vertical holes are made through the center of blocks D for the passage of tierods d, blocks D serving as washers for these rods, nuts d' of these rods being located next under and engaging these blocks. Slabs B, that abut the ends of rails A', are drawn inward and held by tie -rods F, the latter screwing into holes made in the ends of bosses B2. Each tie-rod F is provided with a turn-buckle, f, having right and left handed threads for tightening these tie-rods. Rods F extend in the saine direction as rails A', but are located preferably two or three inches above these rails. For securing slabs B, that constitute the other two sides of the vault, I provide a series of rails, E, laid upon and extending at right angles to rails A', rails E corresponding in number and location with bosses B2 along these remaining sides of the vault. The web of each rail E has a series of holes for the passage of tierods F aforesaid, turn-buckles f being located between two rails E. At the ends of rails E are heavy straps E', bent back U- shaped, so that the ends thereof embrace the webs of the rails to which the straps are secured after the manner of iish-plates by bolting through and through. tion of each strap 'E' has a threaded hole for IOO The central porengaging the one end of studs e, the other endof these studs screwing into the threaded holes of the opposing bosses B2, these studs having, of course, right and left handed threads.

Straps E', if need be,may have lateral holes for the passage of tie-rods F. (See Figs. 2 and 14.) Eventually the interstices of the two series of rods are filled with cement flush with the top of rails E, after which is laid a flooring of steel plates, tiles, or whatever may be wanted. y

The door-frame D3 is preferably integral, and takes the place of a given number of slabs B.

H are cornice-blocks of considerable length, that rest on and break joints with slabs B, and having depending` tongues l-I, that lit in corresponding grooves along the upper end of slabs B. Blocks H are cored at 7L to receive the upper ends of tie-rods CZ aforesaid. A recess, H2, extends along the inner face of blocks H, and pockets 7L are provided .where the nuts on the top ends of rods d occur. Tierods d are only inserted at every secondjoint of slabs B, and at the intervening joints ribs l) are out away in two places at b4, as shown in Fig. 3, but the pockets aforesaid omitted, and tie-blocks D2 are provided to hold the joints together, (see right-hand side of Fig. 3,) these blocks D2 being flush with the inner face of ribs h. Where the tie-rods d occur lugs b2 are provided on top of slabs B, and these lugs in pairs iit in corresponding recesses h2, had in the under side of cornice-blocks H, thereby holding slabs B firmly together at the top.

On two sides of the vault and at the joints of slab B, where there are no tie-rods d, recesses b3 are cast in to receive flanged or I beams l, that support the roof. The corniceslabs H along the inner edge and on the under side thereof are 11e-enforced by ribs H3, and these edges are tongued or grooved, as shown at h3, to engage corresponding tongues or grooves of the roof-plates J. These plates along the edges thereof are 11e-enforced on the under side by ribs j, and these ribs are provided with lugs j, that embrace the supporting I-beams. Each pair of lugs j at the joints are cored to receive plug f, and the points of these plugs whenA driven in enter under the heads of the I-beams, and hold the roofplates firmly down. Similar lugs and plugs are provided where ribs H3 cross the I-beams. Tie-rods K engage threaded holes in the cornice-blocks, these tie-rods being provided with turn-buckles k, for tightening the rods to draw the cornice-blocks against the end of the I-beams. These tie-rods K are usually located close to the I-beams, so as not to interfere witharched ceiling-plates L, the latter resting on the I-beams, as shown. rFie-rods M extend at right angles to tie-rods K and hold the cornice -blocks against the ends of the roof-slabs, the latter tie-rods passing through holes in the Web of the I-bearns and are located some inches above rods K, so that preferred.

rods M are also out of the way of plates L. The latter are usually of thin sheet-steel and are sprung into place. The walls are usually lined with steel plates N, that are secured by screws, and the cavities between these liningplates and slabs B are iilled with cement, if The door-frame D3 and the door D4 have heavy lugs, respectively, d2 and d', on the external faces thereof for fastening the hinges. These lugs are heavy enough to prevent the possibility of being broken off by violence. These lugs are of course cast on and are chilled, and as there are no bolt-holes lin the door there are no' parts accessible underneath such chilled surfaces where burglars could chip or drill away the metal,

lf desired, instead of making the slabs B of one piece, (in length,) they may be made in two or more pieces, as shown in Fig. 15, the same letters of reference being used which designate the same parts at the base of the slabs. In this case all the slabs would have pockets B4 at their base, and the ribs would. not alone be cut away, as shown at b4. The slabs being' in two pieces in length, as they rest on each other, these joining faces are provided with tongues and grooves. Just above the bottom rib, l), of the top slab the ribs are left projecting a short distance upward and are embraced by tie-blocks D, through which tierod d passes, and on which the nut d rests, drawing the vertical sections of a slab against each other, at the same time holding the slab against the one next adjacent.

What I claim isl. In bank-vaults, the combination, with upright slabs tongued and grooved together at their edges and constituting the outer Walls of the vault, of a iiooring of railroad-rails and tie-bars, substantially as indicated, for drawing and holding the wall slabs against such flooring, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a foundation of mason-Work and a flooring of railroad-rails laid thereon, of upright slabs tongued and grooved together, and constituting the outside Walls of the vault, said slabs resting on the-mason Work and having inwardly-proj ecting toes that overlap and .rest on the flooring-rails, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with upright slabs and cornice-blocks resting on such slabs, these members being tongued and grooved together, substantially as indicated, of upwardly-proj ecting lugs integral with such upright slabs, such lugs being arranged in pairs at the edges of the slabs, with corresponding recesses in the cornice-blocks for receiving such lugs, whereby the slabs are held together edgewise, substantially as set fort-h.

4. The combination, with upright slabs having inwardly-projecting ribs abutting each other, of tie-blocks D2, the latter having shoulders for embracing the ends of such pairs of abutting ribs for holding the upright slabs together edgewise, substantially as set forth.

5. The combinatiomwith upright slabs and IOO IIO

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cornice-blocks resting thereon, substantially as indicated, of I-beams for supporting the roof, recesses in the upright slabs for receiving the ends of these I-beams, and tie-rods connected with the corniceeslabs for drawing and holding the latter against the ends of the I beams, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina bank-vault, slabs constituting the Sides of the vault, provided with pockets in their contiguous edges and projecting portions extending into said pockets, in combination with tie-blocks inserted in such pookets and engaging the projecting portions of the slabs, said tie-blocks being provided With holes for the passage of tie-rods, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination, With flanged beams and slabs secured to said beams, of proj eating lugs of the slabs for embracing the beams, with grooved abutting faces in said lugs, pairs of grooves forming holes, and plugs inserted in such holes, the ends of the plugs engaging the beam-anges for holding the slabs against said beams, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination, `With upright slabs tongued and grooved together and constituting the outer Wall of the vault, such slabs having grooves at the upper ends thereof, of

cornice-blocks resting on such upright slabs, such cornice-blocks having tongues adapted to lit the grooves of the slabs, and tie-rods lying in grooves formed in contiguous faces of the slabs, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, With upright slabs and cornice-blocks resting thereon, substantially as indicated, of vertical tie-rods for securing the cornice-blocks, such tie-rods extending through andbeingconcealedin grooves formed in the meeting-faces of the upright slabs, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination, With cornice-blocks, substantially as indicated, of I-beams, a series of roofing-slabs, the same being tongued and grooved together and tongued and grooved with the cornice-slabs, and tie-rods at right angles to the I-beams engaging the corniceslabs for holding the latter against the ends of the rooiing-slabs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of September, 1888.

NOAH S. AMSTUTZ.

Witness es:

CHAs. H. DoRER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

